Star Wars: Incredible Anakin Skywalker fan theory shines new light on the prequel trilogy

The character – who famously became Darth Vader at the end of Revenge of the Sith – is said to have had his character represented by each of the episodic villains in the prequel trilogy.

User TracerBullet has been 93% Upvoted for their Star Wars theory, which is titled: “Each of the prequels’ episodic villains represents a part of Anakin’s character that he loses during his fall to the dark side.”

They explained: “I’ve heard people say that Grievous is a reflection of what Anakin will become after his downfall, and it was an artistic choice to put him into RotS. George Lucas loves his ‘rhyming’.”

The theorists suggests that firstly, Anakin’s downfall begins as soon as he meets Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in the Phantom Menace, and secondly, that “each ‘one-off’ bad guy reflects Anakin’s fateful choices during their respective episode”.

“In Episode I, Anakin is seemingly freed from slavery, but in actuality, he gives up his moral agency to the Jedi Order. This is reflected by Darth Maul, who is wholly subservient to his master,” the post continues.

“10 years later [in Attack of the Clones], Anakin begins to reject the Jedi Code. He gives in to passion and power over honour and order. This is reflected by the fallen Jedi, Count Dooku.

“Finally, in Episode III, Anakin loses his humanity, slaughtering hundreds, even within his own order. This is reflected by the ruthless cyborg, General Grievous.”

The post concludes: “Every decision Anakin makes is against his own interests.

“He is his own overarching villain in the prequels, merely reflected by each of Sidious’s inferior apprentices.”

Interestingly, TracerBullet suggests that the main overarching villains of the other trilogies are Vader and Kylo Ren – and that even Qi’Ra could turn out to be the main antagonist if Solo forms the first part of a trilogy.

It’s an interesting time for those movies at the moment, however, with Solo failing to meet high expectations at the US box office.

It was thought that all other anthology tales had been put on hold for the time being, but Ron Howard – who directed Solo – recently indicated that this was not the case after all.

The final part of the sequel trilogy – the as-yet-untitled Episode 9 – is due out in December 2019.

Rian Johnson, who helmed 2017’s The Last Jedi, will then lead another trilogy populated by new characters.